"JimH" wrote in message
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"Tim" wrote in message
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On Apr 3, 6:02 pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message

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On Apr 3, 3:41 pm, "JimH" wrote:





"Robert M. Gary" wrote in
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On Apr 3, 9:29 am, John H. wrote:

Make sure you get a chance to have the boat and engine inspected
before
plunking down your money!

Everyone says that as a kind of CYA. However, in truth paying $800 to
inspect a boat that is otherwise pretty new and been maintained (with
documentation) by a well-known shop may not be best bang-for-buck.

-Robert
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It cost me $385 to have my 20 footer surveyed. The survey included the
structure, mechanics and a compression test on the engine.

I would never buy a used boat without having it surveyed.

I'm no expert, but I bought both of my boats without a survey or a
"sea trial" The prices were right, and I'm no expert, but I can check
stuff out fairly well. Been well satisfied with what I have.
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Glad it worked out for you so far Tim. I look at a survey as a bit of
insurance and a good second opinion.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

That's a good thought, now that I re-read my post I feel that I may
have seemed a bit arrogant to the OP, which wasn't my intention. I
would deffinately agree that being a first timer with little or no
knowledge of the craft they wish to by, then a good, independant
mechanical survey may be just the ticket. But I would suggest that one
should really pick oput the best they can find in the price line they
can afford, almost as if it is to be "the one" THEN have it
researched. otherwise a eprson can survey them right down the line and
do nothing but waste a lot of their time and money for the existing
owners benefit.
================

When buying used..........I have always walked away from boats that were
cosmetically neglected as it told me the owner really did not take pride
in caring for the boat, which also translated to the mechanical systems
and power train.

I also walked away from boats when the owner could not produce maintenance
records.

Those are the easy things to flag. Structural is another and a good
surveyor can be your best friend when it comes to finding a structurally
sound boat.

Compression testing the engine(s) is also a good indicator on the worth of
the boat.


I bought my last boat without survey. Did do an in water test. Since it
was owned by the sales manager for a large car and truck dealership, the
maintenance was most likely done without paper work. But was an extremely
clean boat and did find any major corrosion and since the only thing in the
boat wood was the floorboards, there was not a lot of structural flaws that
could hide. He did have the last repair on the pump for new seals. But I
put another 700 hours on the engine before I had to change it. But I am
also very familiar with inboard engines.